Pep Guardiola labelled forwards Erling Haaland and Julian Alvarez an “incredible weapon” after the pair struck throughout a gritty 2-1 win at Fulham which returned Manchester City to the Premier League summit.
The champions had not been high since February 17 and have been made to work onerous to maneuver above Arsenal by a decided Fulham facet.
Marco Silva’s males confirmed their resilience after Haaland scored his fiftieth objective of the season from a spot-kick to present City the lead after simply three minutes.
The Cottagers discovered a leveller via Carlos Vinicius, but it surely was a contact of sophistication from Alvarez, who restored the guests’ benefit within the first half – a strike that ultimately secured all three factors for Guardiola’s males.
The City supervisor praised his strike partnership, with Haaland taking his tally of league objectives to a record-equalling 34 (alongside Alan Shearer and Andy Cole) for probably the most scored in a single Premier League season.
“I was really impressed that he took the penalty with the mentality that he has, strong and another goal helps us with Julian,” Guardiola stated.
“Julian all the time helps us, he’s incredible, every time he plays he gives us everything.
“Quality goals and assists. Today with the penalty assist from Riyad (Mahrez) and after he has done so… we have two strikers when we need people in the box.
“These two guys are an incredible weapon that we have.”
World Cup-winner Alvarez has discovered alternatives considerably restricted this season, however Guardiola hinted he would possibly discover a approach to play each the 23-year-old and Haaland.
“If you play almost all the games to be world champions for Argentina. He has something unique,” he stated.
“But it has been a lot to understand that maybe in the future there can be something to make them both play. Especially in tight games.”
Fulham have been dealt a blow for the rest of their season, with accidents to Tim Ream and Andreas Pereira.
Ream has performed each minute of Fulham’s Premier League marketing campaign till he was compelled off, whereas Pereira has been a key man since becoming a member of in the summertime from Manchester United.
“Always difficult to take when you get the defeat,” Silva stated. “It was what’s happened this afternoon.
“But the first thing is to mention that the worst thing that happened was not the result but the injuries to two players.
“Unfortunately for us it looks like serious situations in both cases.
“Tim Ream is probably not playing anymore this season and has broken his arm, let’s hope Andreas Pereira is not so serious.
“This is the worst thing, because after Mitrovic (serving an eight-game suspension) and the injury of Willian, with a small squad like we have it’s really tough to take.”
